Lubricator for deep-well drills and the like



April 7, 1925. 1,532,552

O.DUDA

LUBRICA'IOR FOR DEEP WELL DRILLS AND THE LIKE Filed June 8, 1920 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 i6 Z0 Z2 15 A ril 7, 1925. 1,552,552

0. DUDA v LUERICATOR FOR DEEP WELL DRILLS AND THE LIKE Filed June 8, L920 2 Sheets-Sheat 2 Invenl'or: M24 @222 Patented Apr. 7, 1925.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

OSWALD DUDA, OF HOUSTON, TEXAS, ASSIGNOR TO REED ROLLER BIT COMPANY, A.

CORPORATION OF TEXAS.

LUBRICATOR FOR DEEP-WELL DRILLS AND THE LIKE.

Application filed June 8, 1920. Serial No. 387,478.

To all whom it may concem Be it known that I, OSWALD DUDA, acitizen of the United States, and resident of Houston, Texas, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Lubricators for Deep-VVell Drills and the like, of which the following is a specification.

The invention relates to means for lubricating the cutters of deep well rotary drilling apparatus or the like, and concerns a simple and eflicient means whereby the lubricant may be positively forced to the parts to be lubricated The invention consists in the feature and combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter described and particularly pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings Figure 1 is a vertical section of so 'much of a rotary drilling apparatus as is necessary to illustrate my invention in connection therewith.

Figure 2 is a plan view of the propellor or rotor.

Figure 3 is a plan view of the oil forcing piston.

Figure 4 is a detail of the protector or strainer of Figure 1.

Figure 5 is a plan view of a modified form of propeller showing fewer blades than in the form illustrated in Figure 2.

Figure 6 is a plan View of a portion of the spider.

Figure, 7 is a diagram of the relative po sition of the wings of the propeller protector or strainer, the propellor and the spider.

In these drawings 1 indicates a section of the drill stem screw threaded at its upper end for connection to the section next above it. 2 indicates a form of coupling which is used to connect the lower drill stem section 1 with the head 3 of the drill or other device with which the lubricator is to be employed.

The lubricator comprises a cylindrical container 4 having a bottom 5 perforated at 5 for the discharge of the lubricant.

This lubricator chamber or reservoir is connected with the head 3 of the apparatus being hollow to direct the lubricant to distributing conduits, one of which is shown at 8, leading to the parts to be lubricated.

Within the lubricant containing chamber 4 there is a piston made up of a member 9 having a central body portion provided with a screw threaded opening, and a flange 9 on which the packing 10 is held by the disc 11 which in turn is held-by the nut 12 screw threaded on to the upper end of the member 9. The screw threaded open= ing of the member 9 receives the screw threaded rotary shaft or rod 13 so that when the shaft is rotated the piston will be forced down to positively press the lubricant through the openings 5 and conduits 8 to the parts to be lubricated.

This rotary shaft is journalled in the bottom 5 of the lubricant container and also in the top 14 thereof which is screw threaded into the cylindrical body part 4.

In the illustrated embodiment of my invention the rotary shaft is turned by a propeller or rotor 15 keyed thereto at 16 but this shaft may be otherwise rotated. This propeller has inclined blades as shown in Figure 2 and these are acted on by the water flowing down through the drill stem. This water after acting on the propeller passes down through the annular space 17 between the drill stem and the lubricant container and finds an outlet through a passage or passages 18 formed through the drill head. This water fiiishes the hole and clears the cutters.

A vent is provided at 19 to prevent the formation of a vacuum above the iston when the latter is positivelymoved ownward through the operation of the screw threaded shaft.

The shaft 13 has its lower portion 13' formed of reduced diameter and without screw threads, so that when the piston 9 reaches its lowest limit it will free itself from they screw threaded portion of the said shaft and hence will not be further acted on thereby. This will prevent strain and damage to the parts.

A strainer or grid 20 is arranged above the propeller for collecting any dbris which may have found its way'into the drill stem, such for instance asa piece of ump acking. This will be caught by the gri and prevented from clogging the propeller blades or interfering with their proper functioning.

At 21 I show a spider surrounding the upper end of the lubricant holder and serving to brace this upper end from the wall of the drill stem.

The relative inclination of the blades of these members, i. e., grid, propeller and spider is illustrated in the diagram Fig. 7, the direction of flow of the water being inv dicated by the arrows.

The shaft 13 11213 collars 22 pinned thereto, or other fastenings, which hold the shaft in place.

The grid as in Figure 1 is conveniently mounted on the upward extension of the shaft 13, which is prolonged for this purpose.

The grid is not rigidly secured to this shaft.

The piston 9 is split longitudinally into two halves as indicated by the line .1 in Figure 3.

I do not limit myself to the use of the grid 20 or the spider 21, as these features can be omitted.

It will be seen from the above that in carrying out my invention I preferably utilize the flow of the flushing water through the apparatus to operate means which controls the feed of the lubricant from the reservoir to the bearing of the cutter or cutters, and while the means for utilizing this flow of water may assume different forms, the particular form which I show as exemplifying my invention includes a rotor which is turned by the flow of the water and imparts its movement to a plunger.

As will be understood by those skilled in this art, in the use of a drill provided With a lubricant reservoirin which a piston is located designed to be advanced, to feed the lubricant therefrom, by the pressure of the flushing fluid upon the upper side thereof, it is essential to provide at the upper end of the reservoir means for arresting the upward movement of the piston, or otherwise it, with the lubricant in'the reservoir, would be ejected from the upper end of the reservoir, due to the back pressure on the drill head when. it is being lowered into the well, and if the piston were not sufficiently heavy, or weighted, to overcome the difference'in specific gravity between the lubricant and the flushing fluid, when the drill is in the well but is not in operation-flushing fluid is not being pumped-the tendency of the lubricant to float would have the same action.

But the provision of the stop at the upper end of the reservoir does not prevent the lubricantrising in the reservoir, due to either of the aforesaid causes, with a consequent displacement of the lubricant at the bearings of the cutter, and in the lower part of the reservoir, by the dirty or gritty flushing fluid.

This results in premature wearing of the bearings.

My invention completely overcomes this very serious objection, due to the positive feed of the piston in the reservoir, which will advance the lubricant towards the bearing to be lubricated during the cutting action of the drill. and will prevent at all times, and under all conditions which exist when the tool is in the well, a substantial movement of the lubricant in a reverse direction, or the displacement of any substantial part thereof from the bearings of the cutters.

I claim 1. A tool for boring deep wells comprising a member carrying rotary cutting elements, a stem carrying said member and through which fluishing fluid flows when the drill is in operation, a lubricant reservoir, a part operated by the flow of flushing water and means actuated thereby to effect the feed of the lubricant from the reservoir to the bearings of said cutting elements.

2. A tool for boring deep wells comprising a member carrying rotary cutting elements, a stem carrying said member and through which flushing fluid flows when the drill is inoperation, a lubricant reservoir, a rotor operated by the flow of flushing water and means actuated thereby to eflect the feed of the lubricant from the reservoir to the bearings of said cuttin elements.

3. A tool for boring deep wells comprising a member carrying rotary cutting elements, a stem carrying said member and through which flushing fluid flows when the drill is in operation, a lubricant reservoir within the drill stem, a plunger for feeding the lubricant from the reservoir to the bearings of the cutting elements and means operated by the flow of the water for moving the plunger, substantially as described.

4:. A rotary tool for boring deep wells comprising a member carrying rotary cutting elements, a stem carrying said member for rotating the same, and through which the flushing fluid passes to the cutters, a lubricant reservoir in communication with the bearings ofthe cutting elements, a plunger in the reservoir, and a rotary member located in the stem and which is rotated by contact of the flushing fluid therewith for effecting the feed of the plunger for forcing the lubricant from the reservoir, substantially as described.

5. In combination in deep well rotary drilling apparatus, a drill stem, a drill head, a lubricant container in communication with the parts to be lubricated, and arranged axially of the drill stem leaving an annular passage between it and the stem for the passage of flushing water, a member opernasaua ated by the flow of said water and means for feeding lubricant from said container operated from said member, substantially as described.

6. In combination in a deep well rotary drilling apparatus, a drill stem, a drill head. a lubricant container mounted axially within the drill stem leaving "an annular passage between itself and the drill stein for the flow of flushing water, a rotor above the lubricant container turnable about the axis of the stem and having its blades reaching across the annular passage to be acted on by the flushing water, and means operated by said rotor for feeding lubricant from the container to the parts to be lubricated. substantially as described.

7. In combination in a tool for boring deep wells, a member carrying rotary cutting elements, a stem carrying said member and through which flushing fluid flows when the drill is in operation, a lubricant reservoir, a bladed rotor to beturned by the flow of the flushing water, means actuated thereby for feeding lubricant from the reservoir and means within the stem for deflecting the flushing water upon the blades of the rotor.

8. In combination in a tool for boring deep wells, a member carrying rotary cutting elements, a stem carrying said member and through which flushing fluid flows when the drill is in operation, a lubricant reservoir, a bladed rotor to be turned by the flow of the flushing water, means actuated thereby for feeding lubricant from the reservoir, and a grid above the rotor to protect the same, saidgrid having inclined water directing surfaces to deflect the water from its straight course onto the blades of the rotor which are inclined oppositely in respect to said surfaces.

9. In combination, in a tool for boring deep wells, a member carrying rotary cutting elements, a stern carrying said member and through which a flushing fluid flows when the drill is in operation, a lubricant reservoir, a bladed rotor to be turned by the flow of the flushing water, means actuated thereby for feeding lubricant from the reservoir, and spacing means between the upper end of the reservoir and the drill stem. adjacent and below the rotor having inclined surfaces for deflecting the water from its straight course, the inclination of said surface being in a direction opposite to that of the blades of the rotor.

10. A lubricator for deep well rotary drilling apparatus comprising a lubricant container within the drill stem and having an outlet to supply the lubricant to the parts to be lubricated. a piston in the container, a screw threaded rotary shaft engaging the piston for advancing the same to force the lubricant and a propeller member rotated by the Water passing through the drill stem and connected to the screw shaft for rotating the same, substantially as described.

11. A tool for boring deep wells comprising a drill-bit carrying rotary roller cutters, a drill-stem having the drill-bit secured to the lower end thereof, and through which a flushing fluid flows when the drill is in operation, a lubricant reservoir located in the drill-stem. a part outside of the reservoir operated by the flow of the flushing water, and means actuated thereby for effecting the feed of the lubricant from the reservoir to the bearings of the cutters.

12. In combination with a hollow stern and head of a deep well drilling apparatus, a lubricant container arranged coaxially with the drill stem. mounted on the head. and having an annular space between it and the stem, a screw threaded shaft arranged within the container, a piston moved thereby for forcing the lubricant and a propeller member on the upper end of the shaft above the container. rotated by the water passing down through the stem for rotating the shaft and advancing the piston to force the lubricant to the parts to be lubricated.

13. In combination with a hollow drill stem, a lubricant container within the stem, a piston within the container divided into sections and a screw passing between the sections of the piston and means for rotating the screw by the water flowing through the drill stem.

14. In combination with a hollow drill stem and drill head. a lubricant container arranged coaxially within the stem and having a perforated bottom and a top, a screw threaded shaft mounted in the bottom and top, a coupling member of cup shape screw threaded internally and receiving the screw threaded lower end of the lubricant container, said coupling having a hollow nipple screw threaded into the drill head to sup ply conduits thereof with lubricant. a water passage through the head connecting with the annular water space between the lubricant container and the drill stem, and a propeller on the upper end of the screw shaft rotated by the water passing through the drill stem. substantially as described.

15. In combination with a lubricant container having means for attachment within a hollow drill stem, a propeller to be rotated by the water passing through the hollow drill stem, means operated by the propeller for forcing the lubricant and a grid above the propeller for.protecting the latter, substantially as described.

16. In combination with a lubricant container, having means for attachment within a hollow drill stem, a propeller to be rotated by'the water passing through the hollow drill stem, means including a shaft harvlng a part thereof threaded, operated by the propeller for forcing the lubricant, and a tially asdescribed. A

1 7. In combination with the drill stem of a rotary deep well drilling apparatus or the like, a lubricant container, a, piston thereinfor forcing the lubricant, a screw shaft for operating the piston, said container having an annular passage for the water between itself and the drill stem, and a propeller on the upper end of the screw threaded shaft having blades overhanging the annular space, substantially as described. I 18. In a tool for boring deep wells and in combination, a drill-stem, a drill-bit secured to the lower end thereof and including a roller cutter, and a; lubricant comprising a lubricant holder, a plunger therein, and means actuated by the flushing fluid of the drill during the cutting. operation for feeding the plunger in a direction to force the lubricant to the bearings of the cutter, said means including a, threaded shaft cooper atingwith the plunger and a device for ro-' tating the said shaft, substantially as described, v. v

19. In combination in a tool for boring deep wells, a, rotary cutter, a member in which the cutteri's' journaled, a stemcarrying the} member atv its lower end through which. a flushing fluid flows when the drill isin operatiom said stem being adapted to be rotated during the operation of the drill, a lubricant reservoir in communication with elb a i g's 'of th IQ r; a mbe 0- tatableindependently of the stem and loc ed ere n, a d. mem r ng ro d during the cutting operation of the tool by contact of the flushing fluid therewith, and means; actuated thereby :for feeding the lubricant from thereservoir to the bearings of the cutter jduring the cutting operation of the tool, said means also acting to pree ts antial movem nt of the br qan n a ve sed r i t t 20.111 a tool for boring deep wells, a rotarycutter, a member in which it is 3' ourn le 's m a ying i embe a c rotatable, independent of the f and located therein, a; lubricant, reservoir communicationfwith thebearingsof the, cutter, a plunger in reservoir, means interposed between the device and] plunger for advancing the latter. as the device, is rotated during the, cutting operation of, the

tool, and for retaining the plunger against movement for preventing substantial move ment of the lubricant; in a direction reverse to thatof thedirectionfof feed, said device n t te by. ont t bf the ,fius h fluid therewith. f I i w A, tool for boring dee wells, comprising archer cutter, a mem er carrying the cutter in which it is journalled, a stem carrying said member adapted to be rotated and through which a flushing stream flows for effecting the removal vof the detritus, a lubricant reservoir located at the lower end of the tool and having communication with the bearing of the cutter, a member movable lengthwise of the tool during the cutting operation thereof for forcing the lubricant to the parts to be lubricated, and held stationary at other times, a part rotated by contact of the flushing fluid therewith and during the cutting operation of the tool, and connections between said part and member for moving the member during the rotation of said part, and for preventing its movement during the non-rotation of the part.

22. Ina tool of the characterdescribed, a lubricant reservoir, 9. part rotated by contact of the flushing fiui'd therewith and during the cutting operation of the tool, a piston for forcing the lubricant to the surfaces to be lubricated, and connections between said.

vabove said barrel and asupporting disc for said shaft above said wheelhaving radial blades thereon adapted to direct the flushing fluid against the blades of said wheel. 24. In a rollerearth boring drill, a head having roller cutters thereon, and a drill stem attached to said head, in combination with means to lubricate the bearings of said cutters coniprising a lubricator barrel on saidhead within said drill stem and connected by ducts'jto said bearings, a rotatable shaft; in, saidbarrel, afsupporting, plate for said shaft above saidbarrel, said plate ,havinginclined radial blades thereon, aturbine wh el 1 1 a haft l w sa P t ar a: ton in said barrel, having a threaded con necti on with said shaft whereby the rotation ofsaid turbine wi ll drivesaid piston downwardlyr V 1 i 5, In a roller earth boring drill, the combination of a, drill head having rolling outters thereon, and; a drill stem on said head, with ajlubricator comprising a barrel secured centrally f said head and connected by oil channels to the bearing of saidcutters, a Perforat d isc i .t e rf' o said barrel, a capat the upper end thereof, a shaft journalled in said plateand said cap, a

tu i r oa f id'shafia o e ai tap, a m

piston in said barrel and a driving connecstem above said barrel adapted to support tion between said shaft and said piston said shaft and barrel erect and spaced from whereby said piston may be forced downsaid drill stem, a piston in said barrel, a wardly. threaded connection between said shaft and 5 26, In a roller earth boring drill, a head, piston to move said piston longitudinally of 15 roller cutters thereon, a drill stem on said said barrel when said shaft is rotated and head, a lubricator barrel on said head within turbine means to rotate said shaft.

said drill stem, oil connections between the In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

bearings of said cutters and said barrel, a 10 shaft in said barrel, a plate in said drill ()SWALD DUDA. 

